Method and apparatus for reproducing data from recording medium using local storage

ABSTRACT

An apparatus for reproducing data recorded on a recording medium includes a pickup unit, a plurality of local storages, and a controller. The pickup unit reads a disc package from the recording medium. The local storages store multiple binding units associated with the disc package, and the controller generates a virtual package by binding the multiple binding units and the disc package according to binding priorities of files included in the multiple binding units. When the multiple binding units include two or more identical files to be bound, a file having a highest binding priority is selected in the virtual package.

This application claims the benefit of Korean Patent Application No. 10-2005-0101231, filed on Oct. 26, 2005, which is hereby incorporated by reference as if fully set forth herein.

This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/641,780, filed on Jan. 7, 2005, in the name of inventors Kang Soo SEO, Byung Jin KIM, and Jea Yong YOO, entitled “METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR RECORDING MANAGEMENT INFORMATION ON A RECORDING MEDIUM AND THE RECORDING MEDIUM”, which is hereby incorporated by reference as if fully set forth herein.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a method and apparatus for reproducing data from a recording medium, and more particularly to a method and apparatus for reproducing data from a recording medium using a local storage contained in an optical recording/reproducing device.

2. Discussion of the Related Art

Generally, there has been widely used an optical disc acting as a recording medium capable of recording a large amount of data therein. Particularly, there has recently been developed a high-density optical recording medium capable of recording/storing high-quality video data and high-quality audio data for a long period of time, for example, a Blu-ray Disc (BD).

The BD based on the next-generation recording medium technique has been considered to be the next-generation optical recording solution capable of storing much more data than a conventional DVD. In recent times, many developers have conducted intensive research into the international standard technical specification associated with the BD along with those of other digital devices.

In association with the above-mentioned situation, there has recently been developed an optical recording/reproducing device based on the BD international standard, but the BD international standard has not yet been completed, such that many limitations and problems occur in developing the optical recording/reproducing device.

Particularly, the above-mentioned optical recording/reproducing device must consider not only a basic function for recording/reproducing data of the BD, but also an additional function for enabling the optical recording/reproducing device to interact with peripheral digital devices. In other words, the optical recording/reproducing device must receive an external input signal, must display the received signal, and must reproduce desired data using the external input signal and the BD.

However, an apparatus for reproducing data from the recording medium to simultaneously reproduce the external input signal and data of the BD has not yet been established, such that many limitations and problems occur in developing a BD-based optical recording/reproducing device.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Accordingly, the present invention is directed to a method and apparatus for reproducing data from a recording medium using a local storage that substantially obviate one or more problems due to limitations and disadvantages of the related art.

An object of the present invention is to provide a method and apparatus for downloading data from an external part, storing the downloaded data in a plurality of local storages, and effectively reproducing data recorded in the local storages and data recorded in a recording medium such as a BD.

Additional advantages, objects, and features of the invention will be set forth in part in the description which follows and in part will become apparent to those having ordinary skill in the art upon examination of the following or may be learned from practice of the invention. The objectives and other advantages of the invention may be realized and attained by the structure particularly pointed out in the written description and claims hereof as well as the appended drawings.

To achieve these objects and other advantages and in accordance with the purpose of the invention, as embodied and broadly described herein, a method for reproducing data recorded on a recording medium using a plurality of local storages, the method comprises reading a disc package recorded on the recording medium; reading multiple binding units associated with the disc package and stored in the plurality of local storages; reading binding information included in each binding unit; generating a virtual package by binding the multiple binding units and the disc package according to binding priorities of files included in the multiple binding units, wherein the binding priorities are determined based on the binding information included in each binding unit; and reproducing the virtual package.

In another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method for generating a virtual package, the method comprises reading multiple binding units from a plurality of local storages, each binding unit including a directory storing data associated with a disc package recorded on a recording medium; and generating a virtual package by binding the multiple binding units with the disk package according to binding priorities of the multiple binding units.

In yet another aspect of the present invention, there is provided an apparatus for reproducing data recorded on a recording medium, the apparatus comprises a pickup unit for reading a disc package from the recording medium; a plurality of local storages for storing multiple binding units associated with the disc package; and a controller for generating a virtual package by binding the multiple binding units and the disc package according to binding priorities of files included in the multiple binding units.

It is to be understood that both the foregoing general description and the following detailed description of the present invention are exemplary and explanatory and are intended to provide further explanation of the invention as claimed.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying drawings, which are included to provide a further understanding of the invention and are incorporated in and constitute a part of this application, illustrate embodiment(s) of the invention and together with the description serve to explain the principle of the invention. In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a conceptual diagram illustrating a method and apparatus for reproducing data from a recording medium according to the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a conceptual diagram illustrating a file structure recorded in an optical disc acting as a recording medium and a method for reproducing a specific title using the file structure;

FIG. 3 is a structural diagram illustrating a data record structure of an optical disc acting as a recording medium according to the present invention;

FIG. 4A is a block diagram illustrating an optical recording/reproducing device according to the present invention;

FIG. 4B is a block diagram illustrating an apparatus for reproducing data using a local storage from among overall components contained in the optical recording/reproducing device according to the present invention;

FIG. 5 is a conceptual diagram illustrating a method for generating a virtual package capable of simultaneously reproducing data recorded in a recording medium and data recorded in a local storage according to the present invention;

FIG. 6A is a structural diagram illustrating a local storage binding unit for generating a virtual package in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 6B is a structural diagram illustrating a binding unit of a local storage for generating a virtual package in accordance with another preferred embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 7 is a conceptual diagram illustrating a method for generating the virtual package using a virtual file system (VFS) on the basis of a file structure according to the present invention; and

FIG. 8 is a flow chart illustrating a method for reproducing data from a recording medium using a local storage according to the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Reference will now be made in detail to the preferred embodiments of the present invention, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings. Wherever possible, the same reference numbers will be used throughout the drawings to refer to the same or like parts.

A method and apparatus for reproducing data from a recording medium using a local storage will hereinafter be described with reference to the annexed drawings.

Prior to describing the present invention, it should be noted that most terms disclosed in the present invention correspond to general terms well known in the art, but some terms have been selected by the applicant as necessary and will hereinafter be disclosed in the following description of the present invention. Therefore, it is preferable that the terms defined by the applicant be understood on the basis of their meanings in the present invention.

A recording medium for use in the present invention is indicative of all recordable mediums, for example, an optical disc, and a magnetic tape, etc., according to various recording schemes. It should be noted that the term “Disc” is considered to be the same as the recording medium according to the present invention.

For the convenience of description and better understanding of the present invention, the optical disc, such as a BD, will hereinafter be exemplarily used as the above-mentioned recording medium in the present invention. It should be noted that technical ideas of the present invention can be applied to other recording mediums without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention.

The term “local storage” is indicative of a storage unit contained in an optical recording/reproducing device 10 shown in FIG. 1. In more detail, the term “local storage” is indicative of a component capable of receiving necessary information or data from a user, and storing the received information or data. For example, a general local storage may be indicative of a Hard Disc Drive (HDD), but it should be noted that the term “local storage” of the present invention is not limited to the HDD, and is applicable to other examples as necessary. It is obvious to those skilled in the art that the local storage may be connected/disconnected to/from the optical recording/reproducing device, and may be implemented with a portable recording medium (e.g., a portable HDD, and a portable flash memory, etc.)

Particularly, the term “local storage” is indicative of a storage unit for storing data associated with a recording medium such as a BD. The data associated with the recording medium is generally downloaded from an external device.

In association with the above-mentioned description, it is obvious to those skilled in the art that the local storage may directly read some permission data from the recording medium, and may generate system data (e.g., metadata) associated with record/reproduction operations of the recording medium, such that the system data may be stored in the local storage.

The term “binding unit” is indicative of a set of files stored in the local storage. Particularly, the binding unit is indicative of a set of information (i.e., information set) associated with a specific recording medium. In this case, the information set is replaced with, is added (or appended) to, or is merged with data contained in the recording medium by information of the binding unit manifest files, such that it can simultaneously reproduce data of the recording medium and data of the local storage. A detailed description of the binding unit will be described later.

For the convenience of description, data recorded in the recording medium is referred to as “original data”, and data associated with the recording medium from among a plurality of data units stored in the local storage is referred to as “additional data”.

FIG. 1 is a conceptual diagram illustrating a method and apparatus for reproducing data according to the present invention. Unified usages of the optical recording/reproducing 10 and peripheral devices are shown in FIG. 1.

The optical recording/reproducing device 10 can record/reproduce data in/from various optical discs having different formats. If necessary, the optical recording/reproducing device 10 can record/reproduce specific data in/from only a specific optical disc such as a BD, or can reproduce the data from the optical disc without recording the data in the same. It should be noted that the present invention exemplarily uses a BD-player capable of reproducing data from the BD or a BD-recorder capable of recording data in the BD in consideration of correlation between the BD and peripheral devices for the convenience of description. It is well known in the art that the optical recording/reproduction device 10 is also applicable to a drive embedded in a specific device such as a computer.

The optical recording/reproducing device 10 records or reproduces data in/from the optical disc 30, receives an external input signal, performs a signal process on the received signal, and transmits the signal processed result to the external display 20, such that a user can view the signal processed result on the display 20. In this case, there is no limitation in a receivable external signal. For example, representative external input signals may be determined to be a DTV-associated signal and an Internet-associated signal, etc. Specifically, the Internet is indicative of a communication network to which a user easily gains access, such that the user can download specific Internet data using the optical recording/reproducing device 10, and can use the downloaded data.

In association with the above-mentioned description, a person for providing content data used as an external source is generally referred to as a content provider (CP).

When original data is recorded in the optical disc 30 seated in the optical recording/reproducing device 10, and additional data associated with the original data is present in other storage places (e.g., Internet), the present invention aims to reproduce the original data and the additional data at the same time.

For example, it is assumed that multiplexed AV (Audio/Video) streams are recorded as the original data recorded in the optical disc, and additional data for use in the Internet is an audio stream different from an audio stream (e.g., Korean) of the original data. In this case, some users may download a specific audio stream (e.g., English) acting as additional data from the Internet, may desire to reproduce the downloaded audio stream along with the AV stream acting as original data, or may desire to reproduce only the additional data. In order to implement the above-mentioned desires of the users, correlation between the original data and the additional data must be established, and there is needed a systemized method for managing/reproducing the above-mentioned data according to a user request.

For the convenience of description, although a signal recorded in the disc is called the original data, and other signals existing in the outside of the disc are called the additional data, it should be noted that the original data and the additional data are not limited to only specific data.

Generally, additional data may be indicative of audio data, presentation graphic (PG) data, interactive graphic (IG) data, or text subtitle, etc., but the additional data may also be indicative of a multiplexed AV stream including the above-mentioned data and video data. In other words, data associated with the original data simultaneously existing in the outside of the optical disc may act as additional data.

In order to satisfy the above-mentioned user requests, a predetermined file structure must be established between the original data and the additional data. Accordingly, a file structure and data record structure for use in the BD will hereinafter be described with reference to FIGS. 2˜3.

FIG. 2 is a conceptual diagram illustrating a file structure for reproducing/managing the original data recorded in an optical disc, and a method for reproducing a specific title according to the file structure.

An example of the above-mentioned file structure is shown in FIG. 2. The file structure according to the present invention includes one or more BD directories (BDMV) under a single root directory. The BD directory (BDMV) includes not only an index file “index” acting as a general file (i.e., an upper file) capable of guaranteeing user interactivity, but also the above-mentioned object. The file structure includes a variety of directories for storing information of actual data recorded in a disc and other information associated with a method for reproducing the data, for example, a playlist directory (PLAYLIST), a clip information directory (CLIPINF), a stream directory (STREAM), an auxiliary data directory (AUXDATA), and a backup directory (BACKUP). The above-mentioned directories and a variety of files included in the directory will hereinafter be described.

The auxiliary data directory (AUXDATA) includes an additional data file for reproducing data of the disc. For example, the AUXDATA directory includes a “Sound.bdmv” file for providing a user with sound data when an interactive graphic function is executed, and an “11111.otf” file for providing the user with font information when data of the disc is reproduced.

The stream directory (STREAM) includes a plurality of AV stream files recorded in a disc according to a specific format. Generally, individual streams are recorded using an MPEG-2 based transport packet, and the stream directory (STREAM) uses extension names of stream files (01000.m2ts and 02000.m2ts) as a specific extension name “★.m2ts”. Particularly, if video/audio/graphic information from among the above-mentioned streams is multiplexed, the multiplexed information is called an AV stream, and a single title is composed of at least one AV stream file.

The clip information (Clip-info) directory (CLIPINF) is composed of a plurality of clip-info files (01000.clpi and 02000.clpi) connected to the above-mentioned stream files on a one-to-one basis. Particularly, the clip-info files (★.clpi) record attribute information and timing information of the stream files (★.m2ts) therein. The clip-info files (★.clpi) connected to the stream files (★.m2ts) on a one-to-one basis are generically named a “Clip”. In other words, this means that a single clip is indicative of data composed of a stream file (★.m2ts) and a clip-info file (★.clpi).

The playlist directory (PLAYLIST) includes a plurality of playlist files (★.mpls). Each playlist file (★.mpls) includes one or more playitems (PlayItem) and one or more sub-playitems (SubPlayItem). Each playitem (PlayItem) and each sub-playitem (SubPlayItem) are adapted to designate a playing interval during which a specific clip is reproduced. The playitem (PlayItem) and the sub-playitem (SubPlayItem) include information associated with a specific clip to be reproduced, i.e., information associated with a reproduction start time (IN-Time) and other information associated with a reproduction termination time (OUT-Time) of the specific clip.

In association with the above-mentioned description, a process for reproducing data using at least one playitem (PlayItem) in the playlist file is referred to as a main path, and a process for reproducing data using individual sub-play items (SubPlayItem) is referred to as a sub-path. The playlist file must contain a single main path. The playlist file may contain at least one sub-path according to the presence or absence of the sub-playitem (SubPlayItem) as necessary.

In conclusion, the playlist file acts as a basic reproduction/management file unit contained in overall reproduction/management file structures for reproducing a desired clip by combination of one or more playitems (PlayItem).

The backup directory (BACKUP) stores a plurality of duplicate files, i.e., a duplicate file (also called “copied files”) of the index file “index” storing information associated with disc reproduction, a duplicate file of the object file “MovieObject”, duplicate files of all playlist files (★.mpls) contained in the playlist directory (PLAYLIST), and duplicate files of all clip-info files (★.clpi) contained in the clip-info directory (CLIPINF). If the above-mentioned files (“index”, “MovieObject”, “★.mpls”, and “★.clpi”) are damaged, a disc reproduction process is also fatally damaged, such that the backup directory (BACKUP) is designed to pre-store duplicate files of the above-mentioned files as backup files.

In association with the above-mentioned description, a method for reproducing a specific title using the above-mentioned disc file structure is shown in FIG. 2.

If a user enters a title reproduction command in association with a title used as an index file (also called “index table”), reproduction of the title begins. A detailed description thereof will hereinafter be described.

The index file (index.bdmv) includes first playback information “First Playback” indicative of information associated with a first reproduction image when data of a corresponding disc is loaded, top menu information “Top Menu” for providing a menu image, and at least one title information “Title #1˜Title #n”.

If the optical disc 30 is loaded in the optical recording/reproducing device 10, title menu information associated with the index table is provided to the user via the display 20. If the user selects a specific title or a specific menu contained in a menu image, data reproduction begins according to a scenario pre-defined by a disc manufacturer. In other words, if the user enters a command for reproducing a specific title (e.g., title #1), a specific playlist file is executed according to a command contained in the object file (MovieObject) of the reproduction/management file structure. Thereafter, one or more clips (e.g., Clip #1˜Clip #3) constructing the title #1 are reproduced by a specific playitem and/or sub-playitem contained in the playlist file according to the playlist file information.

FIG. 3 is a structural diagram illustrating a data record structure recorded in a recording medium according to the present invention. In more detail, FIG. 3 shows a disc record format of information associated with the file structure. As shown in FIG. 3, from the viewpoint of an inner area of the disc, the above-mentioned disc structure sequentially includes a file system information area serving as system information for managing overall files, a database area for recording a playlist file and a clip-info file to reproduce a recorded AV stream (★.m2ts), and an AV stream area for recording a plurality of streams composed of audio data, video data, and graphic data, etc. Particularly, it should be noted that data recorded in the AV stream area may be determined to be original data as previously stated above.

The present invention provides a method and apparatus for simultaneously reproducing original data (e.g., a file structure shown in FIG. 2) recorded in the disc and additional data recorded in the local storage, and a variety of preferred embodiments according to the present invention will hereinafter be described.

FIG. 4A is a block diagram illustrating the optical recording/reproducing device 10 according to the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 4A, the optical recording/reproducing device 10 includes a pickup unit 11, a servo unit 14, a signal processor 13, a local storage 15, and a microprocessor 16. The pickup unit 11 reproduces original data recorded in the optical disc and management information including reproduction/management file information. The servo unit 14 controls operations of the pickup unit 11. The signal processor 13 receives a reproduction signal from the pickup unit 11, restores the received reproduction signal to a desired signal value, or modulates a signal to be recorded into another signal recorded in the optical disc, such that it transmits the restored or modulated result. The local storage stores data therein. The microprocessor 16 controls mutual operations of the above-mentioned components.

When constructing the file structure for storing data downloaded from an external part, the local storage 15 may be composed of a plurality of local storages according to the present invention. For the convenience of description, FIG. 7 shows an example of two local storages (i.e., first and second local storages), but it should be noted that the present invention is not limited to the example of FIG. 7, and is applicable to other examples as necessary.

A controller 12 downloads additional data from outside of the optical disc upon receiving a command from a user, stores the downloaded additional data in the local storage 15, and configures a binding unit using Binding Unit Manifest Information recorded in Binding unit manifest files of the local storage. In addition, the controller 12 configures a virtual file structure (hereinafter referred to as a virtual package) using the binding unit manifest information recorded in the binding unit manifest files, such that it can reproduce data contained in the recording medium and data contained in the local storage. The controller reproduces the original data and/or the additional data using the virtual package upon receiving a request from a user.

The virtual package generated by the controller 12 includes at least one virtual playlist including a playitem capable of reproducing a plurality of clips.

The controller 12 performs the binding operation according to a binding priority between at least one local storage binding unit file and the disc package (i.e., the recording medium file structure), such that it controls the method for generating the virtual package. In this case, it is preferable that the controller 12 may determine the binding priority.

For example, if the first local storage has a priority higher than that of the second local storage and a binding unit of the first local storage and a binding unit of the second local storage perform the binding operation, a file contained in the binding unit of the first local storage having higher priority is selected when the same file exists in the binding units of the first and second local storages. Otherwise, if different files exist in the aforementioned binding units, all files of the binding units are selected to form the virtual package.

In association with the above-mentioned description, a detailed description of the Binding Unit Manifest Files, the Binding Unit Manifest Information, and the virtual package will hereinafter be described with reference to the annexed drawings.

The AV decoder 17 finally decodes output data (i.e., original data and/or additional data) upon receiving a control signal from the controller 12, and provides the user with the decoded result.

The AV encoder 18 converts an input signal into a specific format signal (e.g., an MPEG2 transport stream) upon receiving a control signal from the controller 12, and transmits the converted result to the signal processor 13.

The new virtual package may be stored in the local storage 15 such that it can be re-used in future. Also, the new virtual package may be temporarily stored in an additional dynamic memory, and may then be used.

FIG. 4B is a block diagram illustrating an apparatus for reproducing data of an optical disc using a local storage from among overall components contained in the optical recording/reproducing device 10 according to the present invention.

Information stored in the local storage 15 will hereinafter be described. The local storage 15 according to the present invention stores file information (Directory-File for disc_id #n dependent) including directories and files for every individual disc identification (ID) information, and a plurality of additional clips downloaded from an external part. A binding unit of the local storage 15 is generated, and the local storage 15 may store binding unit manifest information for a binding operation associated with a disc file structure (i.e., a disc package).

Specifically, the local storage 15 may include a plurality of file information units (Directory-File for Disc_id #n dependent) to cope with different discs. Therefore, the local storage 15 additionally requires a file system for managing the above-mentioned file information units. Specifically, the file system is also referred to as a local storage file system 41, and the local storage file system 41 is indicative of a system for managing all files stored in the local storage 15.

Therefore, if an optical disc (e.g., disc_ID #1) of a specific disc ID (disc_ID) is loaded in the optical recording/reproducing device 10, the controller 12 contained in the optical recording/reproducing device 10 recognizes ID information of the disc using the pickup unit 11 and the signal processor 13. If the local storage 15 stores file information, the controller reads binding unit file information equal to the loaded disc ID information from among all file information units stored in the local storage 15, generates a virtual package by binding (or combining) the read information and the disc package, and reproduces both the original data of the disc and the additional data of the local storage using the generated virtual package.

However, although a single local storage 15 and a local storage file system 41 are depicted in FIG. 4B, the present invention relates to an example of a plurality of local storages, and it is obvious to those skilled in the art that the number of local storages 15 may be determined to be a plural number and the number of local storage file systems 41 may also be determined to be a plural number.

A method for combining (or binding) the local storage data with a disc package to form the virtual package will hereinafter be described with reference to FIG. 5.

FIG. 5 is a conceptual diagram illustrating a method for generating the above-mentioned virtual package to simultaneously reproduce data of a recording medium and data of a local storage according to the present invention.

If a specific disc is loaded in the optical recording/reproducing device 10 on the condition that the information and contents shown in FIG. 4 b are stored in the local storage 15, the optical recording/reproducing device 10 reads the file system information 41 contained in the local storage 15, and at the same time reads disc file system information 42 including the file structure recorded in the disc, resulting in the creation of the VFS. In more detail, the virtual file system (VFS) is indicative of a file system virtually generated to manage both the file system contained in the local storage 15 and the other file system of the loaded disc.

The optical recording/reproducing device generates a new virtual package to simultaneously reproduce original data recorded in the disc and additional data recorded in the local storage using the above-mentioned virtual file system (VFS). For this purpose, the optical recording/reproducing device 10 reads file information (Directory-File for disc_ID #1 dependent) associated with the disc (e.g., disc_ID #1) from the file system, generates a binding unit according the read binding unit manifest information, reads the generates binding unit, and performs a binding operation for replacing the read file information with a disc package of the loaded disc (disc_ID #1) or appending the read file information to the disc package.

In association with the above-mentioned description, the binding unit manifest file according to the present invention includes a list (i.e., Files and Titles relation List) indicative of a relationship between files and titles; Name Mapping information for performing mapping of all files contained in the binding unit to form the virtual package; Progressive Playlist information for progressive playlists; and Credential information.

Specifically, the above-mentioned name mapping information is used when file structure data of the local storage generates the binding unit or when the binding unit is combined with the disc package.

The virtual package generated by the above-mentioned binding operation is indicative of a file structure for reproducing/managing an original clip 422 and an additional clip 412. The original clip 422 is composed of original data recorded in the disc. The additional clip 412 is composed of additional data recorded in the local storage.

Preferred embodiments for generating the local storage binding unit will hereinafter be described with reference to FIGS. 6A˜6B. The preferred embodiments shown in FIGS. 6A˜6B are characterized in that the binding unit generates a file structure including a directory in title units.

The aforementioned binding unit configured in title units may have the same file structure as that of the recording medium. If necessary, the binding unit may have a file structure different from that of the recording medium.

FIG. 6A is a structural diagram illustrating a local storage binding unit for generating a virtual package according to the present invention. Specifically, the local storage shown in FIG. 6A is referred to as a first local storage (Local Storage 1).

Referring to FIG. 6A, the binding unit manifest file (disc_ID #1.bumf) 61 contained in the local storage file structure includes mapping information for mapping individual files of a new trailer (42005.mpls, 42005.clpi, and 42005.m2ts) to an auxiliary data file (Japanese.otf) contained in the Shared directory of the disc.

If the disc binding unit (Binding Unit of disc_ID #1) 71 is generated by the aforementioned mapping information, a new-trailer directory is located under the specific disc directory (disc_ID #1). The aforementioned new-trailer directory includes a playlist file (42005.mpls), a clip-info file (42005.clpi), and a stream file (42005.m2ts). An auxiliary data file (Japanese.otf) is located under the Shared directory.

In association with the above-mentioned description, all files of the generated binding unit act as Read-only files, and the aforementioned binding unit combined with the disc package generates a new virtual package to reproduce data of the recording medium and/or data of the local storage, and a method for generating the virtual package will hereinafter be described with reference to FIG. 7.

FIG. 6B is a structural diagram illustrating a binding unit of a local storage for generating a virtual package in accordance with another preferred embodiment of the present invention. Specifically, the local storage shown in FIG. 6B is referred to as a second local storage (Local Storage 2).

Referring to FIG. 6B, the binding unit manifest file (disc_ID #1.bumf) 62 contained in the local storage file structure includes mapping information for mapping individual files of a new trailer (32005.mpls, 32005.clpi, and 32005.m2ts) to an auxiliary data file (Japanese.otf) contained in the Shared directory of the disc.

If the disc binding unit (Binding Unit of disc_ID #1) 72 is generated by the aforementioned mapping information, a new-trailer directory is located under the specific disc directory (disc_ID #1). The aforementioned new-trailer directory includes a playlist file (32005.mpls), a clip-info file (32005.clpi), and a stream file (32005.m2ts). An auxiliary data file (Chinese.otf) is located under the Shared directory.

In association with the above-mentioned description, all files of the generated binding unit act as Read-only files, and the aforementioned binding unit combined with the disc package generates a new virtual package to reproduce data of the recording medium and/or data of the local storage, and a method for generating the virtual package will hereinafter be described with reference to FIG. 7.

FIG. 7 is a conceptual diagram illustrating a method for generating the virtual package using a virtual file system (VFS) on the basis of a file structure according to the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 7, in the case where a plurality of local storages include contents data associated with a recording medium, and there are Binding Unit Manifest files, the highest binding priority is determined when the binding unit manifest files contained in the local storage are generated at the latest time or are generated at the initial time. If the binding priority is established in the optical recording/reproducing device, the optical recording/reproducing device will perform the binding operation according to the aforementioned binding priority.

In addition, the optical recording/reproducing device may include a Play Option menu for a user, such that the user can freely assign a desired priority to a binding unit of any one of local storages using the Play Option menu.

Specifically, the preferred embodiment of the present invention shows a plurality of local storage (e.g., two local storages (Local Storage 1 and Local Storage 2)), and it is assumed that the binding priority of the local storage 1 is higher than that of the local storage 2 when the binding operation is performed.

In other words, when the disc package 73, the binding unit 71 of the local storage 1 the binding unit 72 of the local storage 2 perform the binding operation, the binding priority among the local storage 1's file, the local storage 2's file, and the recording medium file is determined in a descending numerical order of the local storage 1's file→the local storage 2's file→the recording medium file. In other words, the highest binding priority is set to the local storage 1's file, the intermediate binding priority is set to the local storage 2's file, and the lowest binding priority is set to the recording medium file.

Preferably, the file of the Disc Specific Area Binding Unit may have priority higher than that of the Shared Area Binding Unit.

A specific file structure (i.e., the disc package of FIG. 2) is recorded in the loaded disc, and may be referred to as a disc package. A local storage file system 41 is contained in the local storage. The local storage file system 41 includes a binding unit combined with the loaded disc (e.g., disc_ID #1), and Binding Unit Manifest files.

In association with the above-mentioned description, the binding unit is basically similar to the disc file structure (i.e., the disc package). If necessary, the binding unit configured in title units may have the same file structure as that of the recording medium, or may have a file structure different from that of the recording medium.

It should be noted that the binding unit cannot be operated as a reproduction/management file by itself, differently from the disc package.

If it is assumed that the binding unit is designed to perform data reproduction by itself, this data reproduction is similar to data reproduction of the local storage, such that the above-mentioned operations of the binding unit are contrary to the purpose of the present invention for simultaneously reproducing both original data recorded in the disc and additional data recorded in the local storage.

Therefore, the virtual file system (VFS) specifically uses name mapping information from among the above-mentioned binding unit manifest files, and performs a binding operation by binding (or combining) the binding unit updated to the local storage file structure with the disc package contained in the loaded disc, such that it generates a new virtual package.

Preferably, the generated virtual package may have the same structure as that of the disc package.

For example, the disc package (org_ID #1, disc_ID #1) contained in the disc includes an index file (Index.bdmv), an object file (MovieObject.bdmv), a playlist file (00000.mpls), a clip-info file (01000.clpi), a stream file (01000.m2ts), and an auxiliary data file (sound.bdmv) in the BD directory (BDMV) indicative of a lower directory of the root directory.

The newly-downloaded-updated binding unit associated with the loaded disc (e.g., disc_ID #1) or the local storage 1's binding unit 71, which is pre-downloaded and stored in the local storage, includes a disc specific directory (disc_ID #1) and a disc Shared directory (Shared) under the specific CP directory (e.g., an org_ID #1).

The new-trailer directory indicative of a lower directory of the disc specific directory (disc_ID #1) includes a specific playlist file (42005.mpls) 711, a clip-info file (42005.clpi) 712 managed by the playlist file (42005.mpls) 711, and a stream file (42005.m2ts) 713. The disc shared directory (Shared) includes an auxiliary data file (Japanese.otf) 714, such that the binding unit of the local storage 1 is generated.

The name mapping information of the binding unit manifest files of the local storage 1 according to the present invention includes specific information indicative of names and locations of the binding unit files in the virtual package. For example, according to the name mapping information of the binding unit manifest files, the playlist file (42005.mpls) 711 contained in the binding unit is replaced with the playlist file (00000.mpls) 741 contained in the playlist directory (PLAYLIST) of the virtual package, the clip-info file (42005.clpi) 712 is replaced with the clip-info file (02000.clpi) 743 of the clip-info directory (CLIPINF) of the virtual package, the stream file (42005.m2ts) 713 is replaced with the stream file (02000.m2ts) 745 of the stream directory (STREAM) of the virtual package, and the auxiliary data file (Japanese.otf) 714 is replaced with the auxiliary data file (11111.otf) 747 of the AUXDATA directory of the virtual package. The aforementioned name mapping information includes list information of files associated with file locations.

The newly-downloaded-updated binding unit associated with the loaded disc (e.g., disc_ID #1) or the local storage 2's binding unit 72, which is pre-downloaded and stored in the local storage, includes a disc specific directory (disc_ID #1) and a disc Shared directory (Shared) under the specific CP directory (e.g., an org_ID #1).

The new-trailer directory indicative of a lower directory of the disc specific directory (disc_ID #1) includes a specific playlist file (32005.mpls) 721, a clip-info file (32005.clpi) 722 managed by the playlist file (32005.mpls) 721, and a stream file (32005.m2ts) 723. The disc shared directory (Shared) includes an auxiliary data file (Chinese.otf) 724, such that the binding unit of the local storage 2 is generated.

The name mapping information of the binding unit manifest files of the local storage 2 according to the present invention includes specific information indicative of names and locations of the binding unit files in the virtual package. For example, according to the name mapping information of the binding unit manifest files, the playlist file (32005.mpls) 721 contained in the binding unit is replaced with the playlist file (00000.mpls) 741 contained in the playlist directory (PLAYLIST) of the virtual package, the clip-info file (32005.clpi) 722 is replaced with the clip-info file (02000.clpi) 743 of the clip-info directory (CLIPINF) of the virtual package, the stream file (32005.m2ts) 723 is replaced with the stream file (02000.m2ts) 745 of the stream directory (STREAM) of the virtual package, and the auxiliary data file (Chinese.otf) 724 is replaced with the auxiliary data file (222221.otf) 748 of the AUXDATA directory of the virtual package. The aforementioned name mapping information includes list information of files associated with file locations.

Therefore, when the virtual file system (VFS) performs the binding operation, the binding operation is executed according to the aforementioned name mapping information recorded in the Binding Unit Manifest Files contained in the local storage, such that the virtual package is generated.

In this case, the file (42005.mpls) 711 contained in the local storage 1's binding unit (Binding Unit of Local Storage 1) and the file (32005.mpls) 721 contained in the local storage 2's binding unit (Binding Unit of Local Storage 2) are changed to the file (00000.mpls) 741 contained in the virtual package generated after the binding operation. The file (42005.clpi) 712 contained in the local storage 1's binding unit (Binding Unit of Local Storage 1) and the file (32005.clpi) 722 contained in the local storage 2's binding unit (Binding Unit of Local Storage 2) are changed to the file (02000.clpi) 743 contained in the virtual package generated after the binding operation. The file (42005.m2ts) 713 contained in the local storage 1's binding unit (Binding Unit of Local Storage 1) and the file (32005.m2ts) 723 contained in the local storage 2's binding unit (Binding Unit of Local Storage 2) are changed to the file (02000.m2ts) 745 contained in the virtual package generated after the binding operation. The files of the local storage 1 has priorities higher than those of the files of the local storage 2, such that the virtual package files (00000.mpls:741, 02000.clpi:743, and 02000.m2ts:745) are composed of the local storage 1's files (42005.mpls:711, 42005.clpi:712, and 42005.m2ts:713), respectively.

However, the file (Japanese.otf) 714 contained in the local storage 1's binding unit (Binding Unit of Local Storage 1) and the file (Chinese.otf) 724 contained in the local storage 2's binding unit (Binding Unit of Local Storage 2) are different respectively. Therefore, the file (Japanese.otf) 714 contained in the local storage 1's binding unit located under the AUXDATA directory of the virtual package 74 generated after the binding operation is composed of the auxiliary data file (11111.otf) 747, and the file (Chinese.otf) 724 contained in the local storage 2's binding unit located under the AUXDATA directory of the virtual package 74 generated after the binding operation is composed of the auxiliary data file (22222.otf) 748.

Therefore, the virtual package 74 generated by the name mapping information includes a BD directory acting as a lower directory of a root directory. The BD directory includes an index file (index.bdmv) and an object file (MovieObject.bdmv) according to the virtual package. The BD directory includes a playlist directory (PLAYLIST), a clip-info directory (CLIPIF), a stream directory (STREAM), and an auxiliary data directory (AUXDATA). The playlist directory (PLAYLIST) includes a playlist file (00000.mpls) 741 acting as a substitute for the playlist file (42005.mpls) 711 of the local storage 1's binding unit 71. The clip-info directory (CLIPINF) appends a clip-info file (02000.clpi) 743 acting as a substitute for the clip-info file (42005.clpi) 712 of the local storage 1's binding unit 71 to the clip-info file (01000.clpi) 742 of the disc package. The stream directory (STREAM) appends a stream file (02000.m2ts) 745 acting as a substitute for the stream file (42005.m2ts) 713 of the local storage 1's binding unit 71 to the stream file (01000.m2ts) 744 of the disc package. The auxiliary data directory (AUXDATA) appends both an auxiliary data file (11111.otf) 747 acting as a substitute for the auxiliary data file (Japanese.otf) 714 of the local storage 1's binding unit 71 and an auxiliary data file (22222.otf) 748 acting as a substitute for the auxiliary data file (Chinese.otf) 724 of the local storage 2's binding unit 72 to the auxiliary data file (sound.bdmv) 746 of the disc package.

In association with the above-mentioned description, the index file (Index.bdmv) and the object file (MovieObject.bdmv), which act as upper files of the virtual package, may be updated in conventional index and object files (Index.bdmv and MovieObject.bdmv) contained in the disc on the basis of the newly-generated virtual playlist file (00000.mpls) 741. Specifically, if a title is changed to another title by the playlist file (00000.mpls) 741 contained in the virtual package (e.g., if a new title is added, a conventional title is deleted, or a title reproduction scenario is changed to another scenario), the aforementioned index and object files may be updated on the basis of the newly- generated virtual package.

A method for reproducing original data indicative of the recording medium data and additional data indicative of the local storage data according to the aforementioned virtual package 74 will hereinafter be described with reference to FIG. 8.

FIG. 8 is a flow chart illustrating a method for reproducing data from a recording medium using a local storage according to the present invention. Specifically, if there are a plurality of local storages, a method for reproducing data of the recording medium and data of the local storages is shown in FIG. 8.

Referring to FIG. 8, if the disc is loaded in the optical recording/reproducing device, the optical recording/reproducing device recognizes disc ID (disc_ID) information at step S801 in data of the local storages.

The optical recording/reproducing device determines whether the binding unit of the same disc ID (disc_ID) exists in the aforementioned local storages at step S802. In this case, at least a single binding unit of the same disc ID (disc_ID) may be contained in the local storages, or there is no binding unit of the same disc ID (disc_ID) in the local storages as necessary.

If it is determined that there is no binding unit of the same disc ID (disc_ID) in the local storages, the optical recording/reproducing device reproduces data of a disc package indicative of the recording medium at step 803.

If it is determined the binding unit of the same disc ID (disc_ID) exists in the local storages, the optical recording/reproducing device determines whether the same file exists in the binding units having the same disc ID (disc_ID) at step S804.

If it is determined that the same file is not contained in the binding units having the same disc ID (disc_ID), all files different from each other are selected during the binding operation for generating the virtual package, such that the virtual package is generated at step S805.

If it is determined that the same file exists in the binding units having the same disc ID (disc_ID) at step 804, a file having a higher binding priority is selected during the binding operation for generating the virtual package at step S806, such that the virtual package file is generated.

Preferably, the aforementioned binding operation may be simultaneously applied to the binding unit contained in the local storages and the disc package. Preferably, the binding operation may be performed on the condition that the optical recording/reproducing device is not connected to a network such as the Internet.

In association with the above-mentioned description, the binding priority may be established between a plurality of local storages. Preferably, the controller may establish the binding priority. In association with the binding priority contained in the local storage, the file of the Disc Specific Area Binding Unit has a binding priority higher than that of the Shared Area Binding Unit.

Preferably, the binding priority between the file of the local storage binding unit and the file of the recording medium (i.e., the disc package) may be determined in the order of the local storage binding unit file→the disc package file. In other words, the local storage binding unit file has a binding priority higher than that of the disc package file.

The term “The same file” or “Different files” at steps S805˜S806 indicates whether files acquired after the virtual package is generated according to the name mapping information are equal to or different from each other. For example, if the term “The same file” is determined, file names of two files are equal to each other, so that the two files may also be equal to each other.

The virtual package is generated by files selected at the above steps S805˜S806, and original data of the disc acting as a recording medium and additional data of the local storage are reproduced according to the aforementioned virtual package at step S807.

As apparent from the above description, a method and apparatus for reproducing data from a recording medium using a local storage according to the present invention can effectively reproduce original data recorded in a recording medium and additional data downloaded/recorded in a plurality of local storages, resulting in the creation of more convenient functions for a user.

It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications and variations can be made in the present invention without departing from the spirit or scope of the inventions. Thus, it is intended that the present invention covers the modifications and variations of this invention provided they come within the scope of the appended claims and their equivalents. 

1. A method for reproducing data recorded on a recording medium using a plurality of local storages, the method comprising: reading a disc package recorded on the recording medium; reading multiple binding units associated with the disc package and stored in the plurality of local storages; reading binding information included in each binding unit; generating a virtual package by binding the multiple binding units and the disc package according to binding priorities of files included in the multiple binding units, wherein the binding priorities are determined based on the binding information included in each binding unit; and reproducing the virtual package.
 2. The method according to claim 1, wherein a file having a highest binding priority is selected in the virtual package when the multiple binding units and the disc package include two or more identical files to be bound.
 3. The method according to claim 1, wherein binding priorities of files included in the multiple binding units are based on binding priorities of the multiple binding units.
 4. The method according to claim 3, wherein a binding unit having the most recent binding unit manifest file has a highest priority among the multiple binding units.
 5. The method according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of local storages comprises at least one local storage built-in a data reproducing device and at least one local storage removable from the data reproducing device.
 6. The method according to claim 1, wherein the multiple binding units and the disk package are bound simultaneously.
 7. The method according to claim 1, wherein the multiple binding units and the disk package are bound by a data reproducing device which is not connected to a network.
 8. The method according to claim 1, wherein each of the multiple binding units includes disc specific data and shared data.
 9. The method according to claim 1, wherein each of the multiple binding units has a file structure in which files are configured by titles.
 10. The method according to claim 9, wherein the file structure of the multiple binding units is identical to a file structure of the disc package.
 11. The method according to claim 9, wherein the file structure of the multiple binding units is not identical to a file structure of the disc packet.
 12. The method according to claim 1, wherein the binding information comprises binding unit manifest information.
 13. The method according to claim 12, wherein the binding unit manifest information is included in a binding unit manifest file, and wherein the binding unit manifest information includes name mapping information associated with files contained in each multiple binding unit.
 14. The method according to claim 1, wherein the local storage includes a directory capable of identifying downloaded data.
 15. The method according to claim 1, wherein each binding unit has a disc specific area and a shared area, and wherein binding priorities of files included in the disc specific area are higher than binding priorities of files included in the shared area.
 16. The method according to claim 1, wherein binding priorities of files included in the multiple binding units are higher than binding priorities of files included in the disc package.
 17. The method according to claim 1, wherein the disc package includes a first index file and a first object file and one of the multiple binding units includes a second index file and a second object file, and wherein the virtual package includes the second index file and the second object file.
 18. The method according to claim 1, wherein the virtual package includes a virtual playlist file which is generated by combining a playlist file contained in the disk package with at least one playlist file contained in the multiple binding units.
 19. The method according to claim 1, wherein a virtual file system is used for generating the virtual package.
 20. The method according to claim 1, wherein a file structure of the virtual package is identical to a file structure of the disc package.
 21. A method for generating a virtual package, the method comprising: reading multiple binding units from a plurality of local storages, each binding unit including a directory storing data associated with a disc package recorded on a recording medium; and generating a virtual package by binding the multiple binding units with the disk package according to binding priorities of the multiple binding units.
 22. The method according to claim 21, wherein a file included in a binding unit having a highest binding priority is selected in the virtual package when the multiple binding units include two or more identical files to be bound.
 23. An apparatus for reproducing data recorded on a recording medium, the apparatus comprising: a pickup unit for reading a disc package from the recording medium; a plurality of local storages for storing multiple binding units associated with the disc package; and a controller for generating a virtual package by binding the multiple binding units and the disc package according to binding priorities of files included in the multiple binding units.
 24. The apparatus of claim 23, wherein a file having a highest binding priority is selected in the virtual package when the multiple binding units include two or more identical files to be bound.
 25. The apparatus of claim 23, wherein the controller determines the binding priorities of the files included in the multiple binding units using binding information included in each binding unit. 